Diabetes is a health condition characterized by the inability to regulate blood sugar levels. Insulin plays an essential role in this process, as it helps the sugar circulating in your bloodstream to absorb into the cells. In patients with diabetes, insulin production can decrease, reducing the overall cellular response to insulin, known as insulin resistance. With inadequate insulin activity, sugar stays in the bloodstream, which can cause problems with the cardiovascular system, kidneys, and small blood vessels in the eyes, fingers, and toes. These problems can lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, blindness, and amputation.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) has been shown to affect insulin resistance by restoring hormonal balance. To learn more about how BHRT could help improve insulin resistance, read on, or contact our clinic today.
If you have irregular blood sugar readings, it is critical to address this problem immediately. The progression of diabetes can be slowed or even reversed if caught early. The exact cause of insulin resistance is unclear, but a family history of diabetes, being overweight, and being inactive can raise the risk. Lifestyle changes, including weight loss, exercise, and healthy eating, can help prevent diabetes. Monitoring your intake of sugars and other carbohydrates can also help control diabetes.
As a complement to lifestyle modifications, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) can help improve your insulin response. Specifically, testosterone has been shown to make your cells more sensitive to insulin’s effects in both male and female patients. Low testosterone in men is associated with metabolic syndrome (defined as three or more of the following: high waist circumference, high triglycerides in the blood, low HDL, high blood pressure, and high blood sugar). Optimizing hormone levels in both male and female patients can contribute to reducing waist circumference and central body fat, both of which are risk factors for diabetes. Balancing your hormones may also give you more energy and increase your endurance in the gym.
Women going through menopause should consider hormone replacement therapy to help manage and treat symptoms. Hormone replacement can supplement hormones lost naturally due to menopause, illness, or other changes in the body. Conventional hormone replacement uses synthetic hormones at standard doses, while BHRT uses compounding to create a customized medication that matches your body’s natural hormonal levels. Because bioidentical hormones come from natural sources, they have the same molecular structure as the hormones produced in your body. In postmenopausal women, insulin resistance decreases when given BHRT, including estradiol and progesterone.
Improving insulin resistance with bioidentical hormone replacement can provide you with years of improved health and quality of life. Our clinic offers many beneficial treatment options—contact our team today for a consultation to see if you are a candidate for BHRT or other forms of treatment. Dr. Edward Jacobson, our experienced wellness doctor, will evaluate your hormone status, age, general health, and other medical factors and recommend the best treatment for you. Call today to get started.